Property Record
121 W MAIN ST
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | United States Post Office |
|---|---|
| Other Name: | United States Post Office |
| Contributing: | Yes |
| Reference Number: | 27940 |
| Location (Address): | 121 W MAIN ST |
|---|---|
| County: | Monroe |
| City: | Sparta |
| Township/Village: | |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | |
| Range: | |
| Direction: | |
| Section: | |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1915 |
|---|---|
| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 1989 |
| Historic Use: | post office |
| Architectural Style: | Neoclassical/Beaux Arts |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | OSCAR WENDEROTH |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Water Street Commercial Historic District |
|---|---|
| National Register Listing Date: | 11/12/1992 |
| State Register Listing Date: | 7/3/1992 |
| National Register Multiple Property Name: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. DESCRIPTION OF GENERAL AREA: THE SPARTA OFFICE IS LOCATED AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF WEST MAIN AND COURT STREETS, ONE BLOCK WEST OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. IT IS SURROUNDED BY OTHER TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY PUBLIC BUILDINGS INCLUDING THE MONROE COUNTY COURTHOUSE (1895) THE SPARTA FREE LIBRARY (1902), AND THE MASONIC TEMPLE (1923). ALL THREE OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER. ALTHOUGH NOT CURRENTLY IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER, THE SPARTA POST OFFICE IS PART OF THE PROPOSED WATER STREET COMMERCIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT, WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO BE EVALUATED BY THE WISCONSIN STATE REVIEW BOARD IN APRIL 1992. GENERAL CONDITION OF PROPERTY: THE SPARTA POST OFFICE STANDS ON A SPACIOUS, FLAT CORNER LOT, WITH GRASS AND SEVERAL SMALL DECIDUOUS TREES GROWING AROUND THE BUILDING. A PAVED PARKING LOT ON THE SOUTH SIDE SURROUNDS THE MAILING PLATFORM. EXCEPT FOR A FEW MINOR CHANGES, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE POST OFFICE ARE INTACT AND IN EXCELLENT CONDITON. THE ORIGINAL WOODEN FRONT DOORS WERE REPLACED WITH IDENTICAL SASHES MADE OF ALUMINUM. IN ABOUT 1980 THE ORIGINAL WOOD FRAME, DOUBLE HUNG 9/9 SASH WINDOWS WERE REPLACED WITH IDENTICAL SASHES MADE OF ALUMINUM. AT THE SAME TIME A BRICK MAILING PLATFORM WAS CONSTRUCTED ON THE BACK OF THE BUILDING TO REPLACE THE SMALLER WOOD AND GLASS STRUCTURE. FLUORESCENT LIGHTS HAVE REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FIXTURES, AND ACOUSTICAL TILES COVER THE PLASTER CEILING IN THE LOBBY. NEW SCREELINES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE CUSTOMER AREA. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE IS A CLASSICAL REVIVAL STYLED ONE-STORY, BEIGE BRICK-FACED BUILDING BUILT ON A CONCRETE FOUNDATION, FEEATURING A MEZZAINE AND AN ELEVATED BASEMENT. A COLOSSAL PAVILION COMPRISED OF AN ENTABLATURE RESTING ON A SERIES OF TWO-STORY APPLIED BRICK PILASTERS WITH PAIRED PILASTERS AT THE ENDS PROJECTS FROM THE CENTER OF THE FACADE. THE PLAIN ENTABLATURE OF THE PAVILION, CHARACTERIZED BY A PROJECTING SMOOTH STONE ARCHITRAVE, EXTENDS AROUND THE TOP OF THE BUILDING ALONG THE EAST AND WEST ELEVATIONS. THE ENTABLATURE AT THE TOP OF THE EAST AND WEST ELEVATION ALSO RES ON A SERIES OF APPLIED PILASTERS ENFRAMING THE CENTER BAYS OF THE ELEVATIONS. THE ENTABLATURE OF THE BUILDING AS WELL AS THE PROJECTING PORTICO IS TOPPED BY A PLAIN BRICK PARAPET WITH STONE COPING. THE APPLIED BRICK PILASTERS OF THE PORTICO AND EAST AND WEST ELEVATIONS FEATURING PLAIN STONE CAPITALS AND SHORT STONE PEDSTALS ARE PLACED ON THE LEVATED BASEMENT, WHICH SERVES AS A PODIUM FOR THE CLASSICAL ORDER USED IN THIS ROMAN INFLUENCED CLASSICAL STYLED BUILDING. THE PILASTERS ALSO ENFRAME A LONG RECTANGULAR WINDOW AS WELL AS A SHORT RECTANGULAR MEZZANINE WINDOW, BOTH WITH MULTIPLE FRIZE LIGHTS, IN EACH OF THE LONG BAYS CREATED BY THE COLOSSAL PILASTERS. SMALL RECTANGULAR FRIEZE WINDOWS ARE LOCATED IN THE THREE CENTER BAUS OF THE EAST AND WEST ELEVATIONS. A THREE-BAY WIDE, WHITE CONCRETE STAIRWAY WIT LIGHT POSTS PKLACED ON THE ENDS OF THE CONCRETE RAILINGS LEADING TO THE CENTRALLY LOCATED ENTRANCE INTO THE ELEVATED FIRST STORY. SHORT RECTANGULAR BASEMENT WINDOWS FURTHER CHARACTERIZE TH EBUILDING. PRESENTLY, A METAL AND GLASS ENTRANCE DOOR TOPPED BY A RECTANGULAR TRANSOM WINDOW IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER BAY OF THE PORTICO. ORIGINALLY DESCRIBED AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION HAS HAVING 4000 SQUARE FEET AND A 28 FEET HIGH LOBBY, THE UNITED POST OFFICE CONTINUES TO DISPLAY MUCH OF ITS ORIGINAL INTERIOR. THE PUBLIC LOBBY IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS SUCH AS MARBLE WAINSCOTTING, TERRAZZO FLOORS AND STAINED WOODWORK. THE ARTESIAN WELL THAT WAS MECHANIZED BY M.H. PUTNAM IN 1915 REMAINS BUT IS CAPPED OFF IN THE BASEMENT. EXCEPTIONALLY WELL PRESERVED, THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE BUILDING SPARTA HAS BEEN ALTERED MAINLY BY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL DOUBLE LEAFED ENTRANCE DOOR AND TRANSOM WINDOW WITH THE PRESNET METAL AND GLASS ENTRANCE DOOR AND TRANSOM WINDOW. ON THE INTERIOR, THE LOBBY CEILING HAS BEEN LOWERED. THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONSTRUCTED BEGINNING IN THE SPRING OF 1915 AND COMPLETED IN DECEMBER OF THE SAME YEAR, WAS BUILT ACCORDING TO PLANS PREPARED BY THE "SUPERVISING ARCHITECT" OF THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED BY THE JAMES DEVAULT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OF CANTON, OHIO, FOR A BID PRICE OF $45,586 WITH ADDITIONAL MONEY ADDED FOR TERRAZZO FLOORS AND MARBLE WAINSCOTTING. THE CONCRETE BASEMENT, SIDE WALKS AND DRIVEWAY WERE CONSTRUCTED BY W.D. GRAVES. THE POST OFFICE PERSONEL MOVED INTO THE BUILDING ON DECEMBER 30, 1915. DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING MATERIALS: THE FOUNDATION, WALLS, PIERS, AND FLOORS OF THIS TWO-STORY BUILDING ARE CONSTRUCTED OF REINFORCED CONCRETE. THE FOUNDATION IS LIGHT GRAY GRANITE, AND EXTERIOR WALLS ARE COVERED WITH GRAY MATT BRICK LAID IN FLEMISH BOND TRIMMED WITH LIMESTONE. THE CENTRAL CENTRANCE IS FLANKED ON EACH SIDE BY THREE WINDOWS DIVIDED BY BRICK PILASTERS, WITH DOUBLE PILASTERS ON THE ENDS. ABOVE EACH DOUBLE HUNG WINDOW IS A SIX-LIGHT FIXED PANE. CENTERED IN THE LIMESTONE BELTCOURSE BELOW THE CORNICE ARE THE LETTERS "UNITED STATES POST OFFICE." THE WIDE PROJECTING CORNICE HAS DENTILS. THE COPING IS LIMESTONE AND THE FLAT ROOF IS COVERED WITH COMPOSITION. JAMES DEVAULT & SON, A CONTRACTOR FROM CANTON, OHIO WAS THE BUILDER OF THIS POSTAL STATION. THE PUBLIC LOBBY HAS A PATTERNED TERRAZZO FLOOR OF BUFF-COLORED SQUARES DIVIDED BY 1/4"-THICK STRIPS. THE WAINSCOT IS MADE OF GRAY TENNESSSEE MARBLE TRIMMED WITH PANELED OAK. THE WALLS ARE PLASTER. THE ORIGINAL THREE-SIDED WOOD AND GLASS VESTIBULE IS INTACT. ABOVE THE LOCK BOXES ARE EIGHT-LIGHT CENTER HINGED WINDOWS. THE WORKROOM HAS LINOLEUM OVER THE ORIGINAL WOOD FLOOR, 6'-HIGH TONGUE AND GROOVE YELLOW PINE WAINSCOT, AND PLASTER WALLS AND CEILING. THE SECOND FLOOR ROOM HAS A WOOD FLOOR AND PLASTER WALLS. THE FIRST FLOOR PLAN CONSISTS OF A RECTANGULAR PUBLIC LOBBY WITH THE POSTMASTER'S OFFICE AND STAIRCASE TO THE SECOND FLOOR AND TO THE BASEMENT IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER. THE FORMER "MONEY ORDER, REGISTRY & POSTAL SAVINGS" OFFICE IS IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER. THE WORKROOM IS ESSENTIALLY AN OPEN RECTANGULAR SPACE BEHIND THE LOBBY WITH A BATHROOM, AND A STAIRCASE TO THE BASEMENT ALONG THE EAST WALL. THE BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN CONSISTS OF THE FUEL ROOM, BOILER ROOM, JANITOR'S ROOM, BATHROOM, OFFICE, AND SWING ROOM WITH SHOWERS AND TOILETS. ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE: THE SPARTA POST OFFICE IS ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT AS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE NEOCLASSICAL STYLE AS DESIGNED BY OSCAR WENDROTH, SUPERVISING ARCHITECT FOR THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT. THIS STYLE WAS COMMONLY USED BY WENDEROTH DURING THE SECOND DECADE OF THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY FOR POST OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. LIKE OTHER COMPEMPORARY FACILITIES, THE SPARTA BUILDING EXHIBITS CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEOCLASSICAL STYLE IN ITS SYMMETRICAL, SEVEN-BAY FACADE; REVEALED WINDOW BAYS; PILASTERS; AND PARAPET. THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE IN SPARTA IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE CLASSICAL REVIVAL STYLE. ONE OF FOUR EARLY 20TH CENTURY PUBLIC BUILDINGS DISPLAYING CLASSICAL REVIVAL INFLUENCE IN DOWNTOWN SPARTA, THE SPARTA POST OFFICE DISPLAYS A BEAUX ARTS INFLUENCED PAVILION CHARACTERIZED BY THE "SCALED-DOWN" COLOSSAL APPLIED BRICK PILASTERS RESTING ON AN ELEVATED FOUNDATION AND PLAIN ENTABLATURE THAT ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY CLASSICAL REVIVAL STYLE. THE OTHER SIGNIFICANT EXAMPLES OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY CLASSICAL REVIVAL ARE THE SPARTA FREE LIBRARY (MO36/31) AT 126 WEST MAIN, THE MASONIC TEMPLE (MO24/7) AT 200 WEST MAIN AND THE CAMP MCCOY USO CLUB (MO25/28) AT WEST OAK. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: CONSTRUCTED IN 1915, THE SPARTA POST OFFICE IS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT CONTRIBUTES TO A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITY'S HISTORY AS IT RELATES TO THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE DURING THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY. THIS PARTICULAR POSTAL FACILITY WAS ORIGINALLY OCCUPIED IN JUNE 1914. THIS BUILDING IS SPARTA'S FIRST U.S. POST OFFICE. PRIOR TO 1915, SPARTA DID NOT HAVE A SINGLE FEDERAL BULIDING. THE POST OFFICE WAS HOUSED IN A VARIETY OF BUILDINGS BEFORE THEN. AROUND 1910, CONGRESSMAN JOHN J. ESCH SECURED AN APPROPORIATION TO PURCHASE A SITE AND ERECT A GOVERNMENT POST OFFICE BUILDING IN SPARTA. THE POST OFFICE SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO SPARTA TO SELECT A SITE. THIS REPRESENTATIVE FAVORED THE LOTS NORTH OF THE HISTORIC WARNER HOUSE (NOT EXTANT). THESE LOTS WERE THEN PURCHASED. IN 1914-1915, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SET ASIDE $60,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING A NEW POST OFFICE BUILDINGM, THE SITE OF WHICH WAS THE CORNER OF COURT AND MAIN STREETS ACROSS FROM THE SPARTA FREE LIBRARY (MO 36/31). IN 1915, THE PRESENT U.S. POST OFFCIE WAS CONSTRUCTED BY JAMES DEVAULT AND SON OF CANTON, OHIO AT A COST OF $46,638.00. AT THE TIME OF ITS CONSTRUCTION, THE U.S. POST OFFICE MAY ALSO HAVE HOUSED OFFICES FOR OFFICIALS FROM CAMP ROBINSON, A MILITARY RESERVATION TO THE EAST OF SPARTA. |
|---|---|
| Bibliographic References: | (A) SANBORN PERRIS INSURANCE MAPS 1889, 1894, 1900, 1911, 192, 1931. (B) CITY OF SPARTA PROPERTY TAX ROLLS, 1870-1940. (C) JONES, IDA LUCILLE, "A HISTORY OF SPARTA, WISCONSIN." B.A. THESIS, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, 1915, P. 24. (D) RICHARDS, RANDOLPH A., HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WISCONSIN: PAST AND PRESENT, INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT OF THE CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF THE COUNTY. CHICAGO: C.F. COOPER & CO., 1912, P. 285. (E) CITY OF SPARTA, "TOUR HISTORICAL DOWNTOWN SPARTA: A SELF-GUIDED TOUR." UNPUBLISHED PAMPHLET. (F) SPARTA CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION COMMITTEE, SPARTA INCORPORATION CITY CENTENNIAL: 1883-1983 (1983), UNPUBLISHED PAMPHLET, P. 24. (G) SPARTA HERALD NOV. 3, 1914; NOV. 10, 1914; DEC. 22, 1914; JUNE 22, 1915; JULY 27, 1915; OCT. 5, 1915; DEC. 1, 1915; JAN. 11, 1916. (H) "A CENTENNIAL PORTFOLIO," SPARTA HERALD, EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS, JUNE 6, 1983. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |